Mask
Tips1.
If necessary, tape handles to the back of masks. Good choices for handles
are
tongue depressors, paint mixing sticks, popsicle / craft sticks etc.2.
Ways to use masks for oral language activities include:
Recite a poem.
Re-tell a favorite story.
Tell an original story.
Sing a song about the mask's character
Have a conversation
with another character.
Act out a simple play with several other characters.

Description: Young children often have trouble
blowing their noses. This is an activity to help them practice. I start
in circle by playing Hap Palmer's The Elephant song.
We move to the music and then talk about the elephant's trunk.I ask them to tell me what part of their body
is their trunk. We talk about colds and what
would an elephant do if he had a stuffy nose. That's a lot of blowing!I ask them to close their mouths and feel how
they breathe through their noses.Can they feel the air moving in and out? When
we blow our noses we need to move air out of there to take away all the
stuffiness. But we don't want to blow too hard!Then I introduce the art activity, making elephant
masks to help us practice blowing.

At the art area, we color paper plates, gray
or brown or whatever color the kids want. Those who can use scissors can cut their
plate in half and cut holes for eyes.I help those who need it, usually most of them.
Then we glue a tissue along the cut edge of the plate and use the hole
punch to make holes in the sides to attach yarn ties. I make myself one,
too!

Then with our masks on, we practice closing
our mouths and gently blowing with our noses to make the tissue flutter. If the
tissue moves, we know that we are blowing with our noses!

Description: Have the children cut the entire
center of a large paper plate out and discard the center. Let them paint the
outer shell brown. Sit it aside to dry. Next, fold white poster board
in half. Place the medium sized beak pattern on the fold and cut out.
Open the beak and paint it with yellow tempera paint. Set aside to dry.

Now trace the waddle pattern onto red construction
paper and cut out. Once everything is dry, you are now ready to put it
together. Teachers staple the waddle onto the paper plate, then staple
the beak over top of the waddle. Punch a hole on each side of the plate,
and attach a piece of yarn to it. The yarn can be tied around the child's
head, and walla - You have a turkey mask.

I took this poem and turned it into a skit.
The parents loved it!

Short
Skit: Five Little Turkeys

Five little turkeys flew around
a tree, The 1st one said "There's a man I
see" The 2nd one said "He's coming this
way" The 3rd one said "It's Thanksgiving
Day" The 4th one said "What's he gonna
do?" The 5th one said "He's coming after
you" Then chop went the ax, before they
flew away. They all were on the table on Thanksgiving
Day.

Monster
MasksPaola
encourages the use of fine motor skills as youngsters create their own paper
bag monster masks.

Description: Help the children cut out
three holes from the bags. Two holes for the eyes and one for the
nose. It is easy if you draw 2 round shapes for the eyes and 1 triangle shape for the nose. Try first
with one mask and wear it in order to center the holes properly. Then
ask the children to decorate their masks. I use recycled material
such as colorful plastic bags, newspaper cuttings to make hairs, colors,
beads, confetti, wool threads etc. Children are very good at finding
ideas.

With younger children I found it easier to
cut out cardboard mouths and ears for them to stick on the bag.
While decorating our masks we talk about our faces and our feelings (a
red crescent can make a happy or a sad face). The final result is always
astonishing. Even if the pattern is the same, children's decorations
and personal ideas make the difference.

When finished and dry we put our masks on,
switch off the light and wait for the parents to come. It is a great fun to ask parents
to recognize their children.

Mache
HeadsJosie shares
this activity for older preschool & kindergarten children by saying,
"This activity develops great sharing skills and imagination. It is also
wonderful for decision making and fine hand control."

Description: Mix the cel mix and the paper
strips in a large tray. Blow up the balloons and pair off the children.
Each pair will cover their balloon with paper. You need to do about 6
layers. Let the paper dry, this will take all day. Cut the balloons in
half to create 2 masks. The children can now have their own mask to paint
and decorate. These masks will last a long time and are very strong if
made correctly.

How
do You feel?Students discuss many
different feelings, listen to a story and use fine motor skills to draw
with crayons the emotion of their choice on a paper plate mask during
this preschool and kindergarten teacher directed lesson plan from Lori
H.

Materials: Paper Plates (with eye holes already
cut out), tongue depressors or popsicle sticks (already attached to paper
plates when handed out to the students),crayons, yarn for hair (optional), book Today
I Feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis,glue (for the hair) and a stapler, for teachers
only, to attach depressor or popsicle stick to the plate.

Description: Preliminary
Readiness Activity:The teacher will introduce the topic of feelings
by asking the students how they feel on this particular morning. The Feelings
& Emotions Theme has ideas for introducing this topic.Anticipatory Set:The teacher will ask, "Has anybody ever had
a very good / bad day?"Then the teacher will ask how that day made
them feel.

Lesson Development:After a brief discussion of the many different
feelings, the story I Feel Silly by: Jamie
Lee Curtis is read to the students. While reading the book the teacher
pauses at appropriate times to model the corresponding face (Happy face,
Mad face) to the children and ask them to do the same.

After reading the book, the teacher &
children talk about the book, feelings, and the many different emotions. The teacher, at this
time, reviews the facial expressions that correspond with each emotion.
The teacher shows the students a pre-made feelings mask and explain to
the students that they can make a mask. While explaining the teacher can
make a new mask while the children watch for further understanding of
the instructions

Independent Practice:The teacher now provides the supplies for the
art activity and encourages the students to draw, with crayons, the emotion
of their choice (concentrating on the shape of the mouth).

ClosureAfter the masks are complete the teacher reviews
the many different feelings and emotions, along with the corresponding
face to go with each. Volunteers share their masks.

Making Life ConnectionsThe teacher discusses with the students that
everyone has feelings and how it is OK to feel the way that you do.

Assessment:The teacher assesses the discussion by the
students participation and by the drawings. Does the face drawn
on the mask correspond with the emotion that the student says they are drawing? (focus on the
shape of the mouth).The teacher will assess the students listening
skills by their participation and responses during the discussion of the
book.

Go
Away Big Green MonsterPreschool & kindergarten
children use fine motor control as they cut and they also use sequencing
skills during this activity by Suzanne O.

Description: Read Go Away
Big Green Monster. List in order the construction of the monster.
You will need to paint the plates first to allow drying time. Let each child construct their own shapes in the
order that the book shows. If you would like to "unbuild" the monster, you can
use velcro on the pieces. If you wish to make masks. punch holes in the
sides of the plates and attach yarn.

Comments: The children loved the masks. I
must confess that I did not use the velcro, because I just thought of
that option!

Description: Cut heart shapes from red construction
paper larger than children's faces. Cut holes for the eyes and then draw
remaining features with crayon or markers. Next, glue the cotton or lace
around the outside edge of the heart then attach popsicle sticks to the point on
bottom of hearts.

Description: Take the paper plates and after
a theme has been decided upon assist the child, as little as possible,
to make his or her own mask. Teachers cut eye & nose holes into the
mask. Use the back side of the paper plate for coloring or drawing the
facial features. When dry, the mask can be held in front of the
face, or holes put in the sides, and yarn attached to tie it in the back.

Comments: This is simple and a lot of fun
for all. Some of the kids I've done this withhave saved their masks to play with, again
and again. Then we make new ones, Lots of laughs and giggles.

Storybook
Imagination MasksMegan H. promotes
the use of imagination and creative dramatics when she encourages
children to participate in this mask making activity.

Materials: A story book, I like Goldilocks
and the Three Bears, paper plates - 1 for each child, tempera
paints, glitter, feathers, sequins, etc.

Description: Read the story you have picked
out a couple of times and discuss it so that the children really understand
it. Have each child pick their favorite character from the story. Help the children make
masks out of their paper plates to resemble their favorite character.
Make sure there is one child for each main character.While they are making their masks, you may
want to read the story again. When the masks are done, help the
children "put on a play" with their storybook masks. They may want to
trade masks and characters and repeat their play several times.

When I did Goldilocks, we just set out three
chairs, three bowls, and three pillows. You could also add costumes
if desired, but children are great at using their imaginations, so it's
not necessary.

Circus:
Elephant MaskHere is a mask from
Danna H. that can be included in your preschool or kindergarten
circus or animal theme.

Materials: Paper plates, gray construction
paper for ears (or if you choose - color or paint paper for the ears),
2" by 9" strip for nose, paper for eyes or use wiggle eyes.

Description: Talk
with children about the different jobs
that an elephant might have in the circus. Such as pulling heavy loads
and putting up tents. Also, how they like to eat peanuts and how they
spray water with their trunks. Provide paper plates & let children
color or paint them gray. Give each child 2 ears cut from gray paper or
choose to color ears out of different paper. The older preschoolers can
cut out their own ears. Fold the 2" by 9" strip accordion style for a
nose. Glue all the pieces together. You can make own eyes out of paper
or use some wiggle eyes.

Comments: The children really like to use
the wiggly eyes instead of making their own. I almost always have the
children cut out their own ears. It's funny to see how they all come out
different.

Circus:
Lion masksYoungsters use fine
motor skills and engage in dramatic play during this mask making activity
from Daphne G.

Description: Teacher
preparation: Pre-cut yarn or crepe paper streamers for thelion's mane. Trace small triangle shapes on
construction paper for ears - 2 per child. Cut elastic about 6 to 10 inches long to go
around the child's head.

Have children draw the lion's face on the
back of the paper plate with crayons or felt markers. They can cut
out the triangle ear shapes. Glue or staple the ears and mane to the plate.
If older children are allowed to use the stapler, then teachers must
assist and closely supervise the children. The children may need assistance
with cutting out the eye holes. Teachers staple a piece of elastic
to the mask (to go around the child's head). Or you may staple a tongue
depressor to the bottom of the mask for the child to hold.

Children use their masks to:1. Tell what a lion looks like.2. Tell where you would go to see a lion.3. Tell what a lion can do in a circus.

Comments: Three year olds will need more assistance
to draw the lion's face and cut the ear shapes.

Easy
Lion MaskYoung children create
their own idea of what a lion looks
like during this mask making activity by Darlene J.

Description:1. Have child paint plate orange (allow
to dry).2. Have children decorate their lion
with the material listed above. 3. Glue tongue depressor to the back
of the plate.4. Children's masks are ready to use.

Nylon
MaskStimulate creative
expression, encourage role playing and foster language competence with
this activity by Kelley M.

Description: Teachers bend the hanger into
a diamond shape and bend the hook end to form a handle. Stretch a nylon
stocking tightly over the hanger and pull the end of the stocking over
the handle. Tape the stocking to handle. Cut out facial features from felt and fabric
and glue onto the mask. Glue yarn on for hair

Description: Provide all materials in center
of a table. Ask the children to paint their paper plates pink.
Next, children glue on a cupcake liner where they want to place the nose.
Then glue on eyes and a tongue depressor to create a paper plate pig mask.

Animals:
Walrus MaskMichele W. shares this
mask saying, "During our winter theme
we always spend some time talking about animals that live where it is
winter all of the time. One animal that we discuss is the walrus."

Description: I pre cut a half circle shape
in the paper plate, this is where the children will look through. This project takes
us 2 days. On the first day we paint the paper plates brown. These
we let dry overnight so that the glue will dry the next day. The
next day the children trace out a large heart shape out of brown construction
paper - this is glued upside down on the bottom part of the mask.A black circle is added to to the heart for
a nose. The children then cut out two long strips for tusks (in
the shape of long skinny bananas) which are then glued to the back of
the heart. We then tape or glue a large craft stick to the back. The children
truly become walruses once they put these on these masks.

Animal
MasksRachel shares
this mask making activity saying, "Kids
can create their favorite animal through this fun art project!"

Description: The pre-made masks can be bought
at a local art or craft store. Before the activity, adults can use an X-Acto
knife to cut out the eyes and mouth if kids want to wear them.

Kids then use yarn, glitter, feathers, and
other material to create their favorite creature. Construction paper can
be cut out to create ears, whiskers, or other parts.After, discuss with kids why they chose that
particular animal. Holes can be cut on the sides and tied with string so that kids
can wear masks. An alternative idea is to glue popsicle sticks to the inside front
of the masks so as to enable a handle for holding.When they're done, they can make the sounds
of their favorite animal!

Comments: Young children may need assistance
with gluing and cutting materials.

Face
Mask of YourselfAngie says that,
"The object of this activity is to let the children express themselves
through pictures."

Description: You need to cut out spaces in
the paper plates for the eyes. Let the children cut out objects that they feel
describe them (favorite color, food, etc.). The children then glue the objects
onto the paper plate and they also glue the craft stick on for holding the mask.

Description:1. Develop a "feeling" discussion before the
construction of the masks."How can you tell if a person is happy?""How do you act when you are happy?" "How can you tell when a friend is sad?""Was there a time when you felt scared?""What makes you mad?"

2. Prepare the bags ahead of time by cutting
out the eye holes.3. Have the children use crayons to draw a
face representing a particular emotion. Each child may
choose his or her emotion to illustrate.4. Use small paper cups for noses and paper
strips or yarn for hair. Glue these into place.5. Ask the children to take turns putting on
their masks and displaying the particular emotion. Simply
accept what the children say and acknowledge how they feel when they are
expressing their emotions.

Comments: Children will be really very happy
doing this activity.

The
masks in this theme can be used in many of the Resource Room themes.

E-mail
Gayle to
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